Page 104 - Powerlist 2019 - Digital Edition

Technology INTERVIEW

Ebele Okobi

She walked away from her ‘status’ job as a corporate lawyer to
follow her heart. Facebook’s Public Policy Director, Africa, Ebele
Okobi, tells Marianne Lehnis why she has no regrets, and how
she’s making room at the top table for like-minded women

rom corporate securities lawyer worked really hard. I’ve always felt that makes any sense to ask black people to
to a high-level Facebook policy I owe something and that my job is not make themselves smaller so that people
Fshaper and passionate advocate just to make money for myself, but that in environments can feel better about
for Africa and women, Ebele Okobi’s I had to have a job that had value. I’m themselves. Identify other people who
journey into a position of global very passionate about underserved can be allies to you. I feel very strongly
influence is shaped by courage and a communities and specifically about about finding the other women, finding
determination to live a life aligned with Africa and women as a group. The work other women of colour, amplifying each
her inner values. that I do is in service to those audiences, other’s voices, helping each other, and
It began with a decision to leave her to amplify voices that have been ignored partnering with each other.
prestigious corporate securities lawyer or suppressed, and I think tech and social
job, to find her true passion. media are platforms that help. What have you learnt about leadership
from Facebook founder and CEO Mark
Is there a pivotal moment in your career Zuckerberg?
that led you down your current path? The ability to remain humble and to keep
For Nigerian immigrants, you have four learning. Where you have a learning
career options: lawyer, doctor, engineer, mindset you don’t think that because
maybe pharmacy and accounting. The I’m okay with you’re in charge you have nothing left to
notion of walking away from a job was learn and you’re not intimidated by smart
just not something you did. And I didn’t being the person people and people who challenge you.
walk away into another job, I walked
away to travel and volunteer and figure who says, “this is How damaging has the Cambridge
out what I wanted to do next. I realised wrong” Analytica scandal been for Facebook
that it’s okay not to do the thing that and what did it teach you about
was expected of me and that I was okay leadership in crisis?
with walking away from something that Describe your leadership style. We’ll have to see. For me it’s more of a
had status. I travelled and volunteered I’m very direct, and I like being longitudinal question, than an in-the-
for NGOs in Senegal, New York, and challenged. If I think about my team moment question. I think transparency
California. I came back to New York in the values, it’s taking the problem to the is incredibly important; if there’s an issue,
last week of August 2001. September 11 solution. If there’s an issue, I don’t believe be as transparent as possible and be
happened and I had a really dear friend in tip-toeing around it or gossiping about values-driven as a leader. People are
from high school who was killed. It was it. If there’s a problem, then figure out a going to be upset with you no matter
one of those moments where, it’s a cliché, way that you can fix it. It’s about being what you do, so identify core values and
but you realise life is really short and that in a team of expert people, people who make decisions guided by those values –
I didn’t necessarily have the rest of my I can learn from, and leading a team of then you can defend the values.
life to figure out what I wanted to do. I people who would be doing this work
wanted as of that day, to do work that is whether they were paid for it or not. I Which fundamental principles are of
completely aligned with my mission and genuinely admire anyone who is very core value to you?
what I thought was my purpose in life. outspoken and values-driven. You have to stand for something and
also realise that standing for something
What sparked your passion for human How can black women overcome doesn’t mean that you will always be
rights, Africa, and women? obstacles for getting into leadership liked, and that getting pushback doesn’t
I’m a child of immigrant parents. My positions? mean you’re wrong. If you look at anyone
family is Nigerian and there’s very much I’m more interested in what these who has done anything significant in
a sense that people sacrifice for you environments can do to become places the world, they’ve been hated by a lot of
to be where you are, so my parents where they can benefit from the talents people. That doesn’t mean you should
worked really hard, my grandparents of black women. Because I don’t think it be seeking hate, but don’t assume that

100 Powerlist 2019